Method of forming crystals



A. HoRvATH '1,896,775

METHOD QF FORMING CRYSTALS Feb. 7, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 9, 1928 .......Illlll A. HoRvATH 1,896,775

METHOD OF FORMING CRYSTALS Filed May 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES ALEXANDER HORVATI-I, F CHICAG, ILLINOIS METHOD or EORMING cRYsrALs Application le'd May 9, 1928. Serial N0. 276,350.

This invention pertains to the art of crystal forming, and particularly to method of forming crystals for cases. The particular embodiment of applicants invention disclosed in this application pertains especially to a method of forming crystals for watch cases and the like. It is well known that watch cases, and particularly those worn on the Wrist, are of many different sizes and shapes.

Vhenever a crystal is broken same is, in many cases, very difficult to replace. This is particularly true should the crystal be of'an odd size or shape. Furthermore, watchcases, being manufactured of relatively light mate- '15 rial, the portion thereof in which the crystal is `mounted often becomes warped or other- 'wiseout ofshape, thus making it very difficult or impossible to secure therein a crystal, although the crystal'may vbe of the correct size and shape for that particular design of Watch. Furthermore, the large variety of watch cases in use entails the necessity of a very large and varied stock of crystals in order thata particular demand may be met.

I Owing to the fact that a large portion of such a collection of crystals is necessarily dead stock, the price of an individual crystal is greatly increased. Furthermore, should a crysta be groundto size, same being curved generally over its Ventire area, same in many cases will'bind `the outer tips of thehands of the watch. `Should this portion be Aground away to make room for the hands, a certain aberration results due to varied thicknesses 5 and angles of the ground portion. Y

An object of applicants invention, therefore, is the production of a method of forming crystals, and particularly crystals for A further object is the production of a crys-V tal that is of the same height throughout except for relatively narrow yedge portions, by

watch casesby means ofwhich method a means ofwhich the crystal'is secured tothe case or that is of anyv desired variationfin Y height or shape. A further object is the rodnction of a method for Vforming crysta s of any desired size, shape, pattern or design. 255 A further object of applicantisV invention'is 'the production of crystals that are of low cost, unbreakable, of correct size,2that will not bind the hands of a watch, and that are hig-hly satisfactory for their intended purposes. A

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the lgart from the disclosure herein given.

Applicants invention embodies apparatus for holding the device for which the crystal is to be formed. vThe particular device shown in this application is a watch-case. Same is held between jaws Vmounted on a table'having heating means.' The heating 70 means shownis an electrical heating element.

Thetable on which the jaws are mounted is preferably pivotedl tov its base so thatV the watch case may be revolved during the orm'- P ing of the crystal.- The crystal is preferably '75 formed from a blank of celluloidor similar materiaLv Means are Aprovidedfor obtaining having a small ball at its end. Same is used to press the lCelluloid blank down intopthe opening in the watch case around the borders thereof and to otherwiseform the crystal.` `The height of the finished 'crystalis regu- 95 l'atedrby the amount that the blank `is depressed into the'opening. "Except for the portions Aaround the border ofthe opening, which may be arcuateor langular according totheshapeof the forming tool, the balance to size by means of aforming tool preferably "9 'i of the crystal may be plain or' any desired shape as required, or according to choice. After the crystal is formed, the blank is withdrawn and the crystal cut from the blank by following the outline impressed thereon by the edge of the opening in the watch case or the forming tool may be provided with a projection in the form of a pin, blade,disc, or similar means which scratches or cuts the blank whiley same is in place and the crystal is broken therefrom preferably after same cools. The edges of the crystal are then preferably beveled somewhat in order that same may anchor themselves in the ,groovev about the opening in the watch case. A cement suchva's Celluloid cement may be used about theledges'of the crystal in securing same in vplace if desired, particularly if the watc'hycase iis lto be; made `water-proof.

However, the cement is not necessar'7 to secure the crystal in place.

1 The watch case thus forms the pattern or die for its owncrystal. It is thus seen that a Acrystal of any shape, size, design or pattern may be-readily produced at low cost.

e To this; end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombinationgof parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly lpointed out in the ,30.

' f Fig 5 is a fragmentary top plan viewv of the device showing a watch-case inposition; .Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank of celluloid orother material; ,n f i Y Y, j

Fig. 7 is a'rsectional view illustrating a step inthel formation of the crystal;

- lFigx isa plan view of a blank ,with the .crystal formed therein vvand Fig. 9v is a sectionalview illustrating the finished crystal mounted in a watch case.

4l[{ef, 'errin`g nowtothe drawings, in which the preferred {embodiment-of theV apparatus employed inV the production of a crystal is shown, 1 is 'a base upon which is lpivotally mounted a member2preferably comprising Ya 1 lower'portion 3 forming, with thebase 1an enclosure 4 and an upper portion preferably of somewhat lesser diameter. Mounted on the portion is the `table 6 whichforms a support for diametrically opposedv kjaws 7 Mounted onthe base 1 and within the enclosure4 are two brushes 9 and 10 which may be, connected to a source of electrical energy -through conductors. 11 and 12, respectively.

The brushes 9and 10 and the conductors re- `ferredtoand the connectors therefor are suitably insulated from the`rl base 1. On theuptermined by per wall of the enclosure 4 is preferably positioned a sheet of insulating material 18 upon which is mounted rings 14 and 15. Rings 14 and 15 are contacted by the brushes 9 and 10, respectively, and are so formed and positioned that the brushes 9 and 10 remain in contact therewith when the member r3 is rotated about its pivot'l on the base 1'. The I portion 5 is tubular, and intermediate the ends thereof is preferably positioned a trans- A*verse wall 17 which supports the heating element 18. One end of the heating element 18V is connected to the ring 14 preferably by meansof a rod` 19 having one end secured to the ring 14 and its other end secured to one ing tubular portion 21 which encloses the -upper end of the portionxg and is secured theretoipreferably by means ofi-the screws22 (see'Fig).

A strip of heat insulatingmaterial23 is preferably positioned about the Yend' of the heating. element 18.V The other i Vend of Athe heating .element V18V is connectedV `in a sim-ilar'manner tothe ring 15. vIf desired, heat insulating material 2O may beY po# sitioned4 inthe bottom of the'member 5. The f! table 6 is shown with a dow-nward'lyextendheating element 18: and adjacent the wallof the portion 5. Same; is inthe preferred form spaced from the transverse: plateportion 24 of the table `6.

The jaws .7 andV8-hav'e extensions 25 and 26 pivotally engaging'same which areexternally threaded andpass through and engage internalthreads inears 27and 28 on the table 6; Gn. the top face of each jaw are prefer-f` vably positioned spacedinvertedcone-shaped,

blank securing members 29. These members 29 on .onef'of thejaws are provided with pointed projections 30, the purpose of whichV will be hereinafter setr forth. The base may be securedto a table, bench or other supporti by means of screwsl if'so desired. j

A crystal is :formed as follows: First a watch case withoutthe movementis .placed between the jaws. l loid orsimilarv material is placed in the position shown in dotted lines at 32 in Fig? 2.

-Same'is slightlydepressed onto the points 30 on VtheY members 29 .on Yone of the jaws.

This leaves Vguide-marks 33 (see .F ig. 6),. The

Y The blank is vnow ofv suit-A able width such that' opposite edgesv of same may be forced under the inverted conical .shaped members 29 on the opposed jaws as shown'in Figs. 5 and-7. Thebl'ank is thus secured iny position above the watch case or blank is then cut alongl a line passing through 'these two marks.

other` device which is toform the pattern or j die forthe crystah rlhe heat is nowapplied for a desired length of time which may be deeXperiment. The desired amount of heat is thatv whichwill eventually Ysoften the: blankv such that same mayl be readily formed; A forming ltool 341 having an end: v35 of any desired shapeisthen A blank piece of cellui110,

pressed against the blank following the contour of the opening in the case. The forming tool 34 is preferably held at an angle as shown in Fig. 7. The depth'to which the center portion 36 of the crystal may be formed (which corresponds to the height of the 1inished crystal) is determined generally by the Vangle which the forming tool 34 makes with the finished crystal in place in the case.

After the crystal is formed the blank with the crystal therein has the appearance shown in Fig. 8. The crystal is now cut therefrom along the line 88. The edges of the crystal may then be beveled if desired as shown at 39 in Fig. 9. This is generally done with a file or other means. purpose of forming a circumferential edge on the crystal conforming. somewhat to the groove in the watch case, so that the crystal may be better secured in position.

However, the same forming tool or a similar one may be provided with a pin or blade 40 which when the forming end thereof is caused to trace or retrace its path along the edge of the bezel, the pin or blade 4() will scratch or cut the blank such that when the blank cools, the finished crystal may be readily broken therefrom.

It is readily seen that a crystal of any desired size or shape may be readily and quickly made and at a cost much lower than heretofore. t is understood that other forms of heating means may be employed and that the invention is not necessarily limited to ,the making of watch crystals but can be used in making crystals or similar articles for many other purposes. Should a crystal when finished or later after ithas been in use, be found slightly too small for its opening, same may be readily enlarged by merely laying same on a Warm surface such as the table 6 and then applying slight pressure on the outer face of the crystal.

Having thus described my invention, it,

is obvious that various immaterial modifications Inay be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction,

This beveling is for theV opening in a bezel which consists in placing a piece of transparent Celluloid material on the bezel in which the opening is formed and in whichV the crystal is to be positioned, applying heat to soften said material, pressing the material into said opening to form an outline of the opening and an offset portion on said material, and removing from said. piece of material the portion thereof defined by said*l outline. Y

2. A method of making a crystal for an opening in a bezel which consists in placingl y a piece of transparent Celluloid material on the bezel in which the opening is formedv and in which the crystal is to be positioned, applying heat to soften said material, pressing the material into said opening to form an outline of the opening and an offset portion on said material, removing from said piece of material the portion thereof defined by said outline, andthereafter beveling the edges 'of y said portion.

In testimony signed my name. y

' ALEXANDER HORVA'II-I.

whereof, I have hereunto' 

